Science: The Fat Boys

They are big and roly-poly, with human heads and torsos but no sexual
markings. Standing majestically in the town plaza of La Democracia
(pop. 2,000) in southern Guatemala, the dozen pre-Columbian statues
were excavated from a nearby ceremonial site and are a favorite target
of tourist cameras. Now the "Fat Boys," as they are called,
are becoming objects of scientific curiosity as well.

Examining them
with a hand compass earlier this year, Dartmouth Geographer Vincent H.
Malmstrom found that its needle was sharply attracted whenever he held
it to the...